Cheap helmets at Aldi this week

Guran · Postby **Guran** » Sat Aug 06, 2011 4:26 pm

This week's Aldi catalogue (starts Thursday 11th August), has a heap of motorbike gear, including these helmets. They are certified to AS/NZS 1698:2006 (not sure about the visor), and cost only $69 each! Might be of interest to trackday newbies (provided that the visor complies with AS 1609).

http://aldi.com.au/au/html/offers/2827_ ... 8-04-04-57

mazdatenfive · Postby **mazdatenfive** » Sat Aug 06, 2011 5:27 pm

Question:
Would you need the visor for track days?

Guran · Postby **Guran** » Sat Aug 06, 2011 5:37 pm

In NSW at least, you need a visor if you're driving with the top down.

rossint · Postby **rossint** » Sat Aug 06, 2011 5:51 pm

I'm pretty sure CAMS class the MX5 as an open top car weather the top is up down or you have a hardtop so technically you need the visor down all the time. Whether or not this is enforced is another thing. I've been warned in the past for not having a visor at all so now just leave it on the helmet.

rwf · Postby **rwf** » Sat Aug 06, 2011 6:36 pm

There's no hope in hell I would put that on my head

Plus it's a motor bike one not motor car

My head is worth more then $70

That's my two cents

mazdatenfive · Postby **mazdatenfive** » Sun Aug 07, 2011 12:13 pm

rwf wrote:There's no hope in hell I would put that on my head

Plus it's a motor bike one not motor car

My head is worth more then $70

That's my two cents

So there is a difference between motor car and motor bike helmets?

rwf · Postby **rwf** » Sun Aug 07, 2011 1:26 pm

Yes there is

Entice · Postby **Entice** » Sun Aug 07, 2011 1:47 pm

air flow being a major one..

and no hans device attachment..

but still, a great entry price for someone who doesnt want to use the freebie helmets for karting...

Steampunk · Postby **Steampunk** » Sun Aug 07, 2011 2:02 pm

For those who don't know how Aldi's specials work, the FIRST day of the catalogue specials is Thursday.
Depending on the popularity of the product, get there as the store opens or else you're in for dissapointment.

Quality of these helmets is great for the price, paint and external accessories doesn't look/feel cheap. The visor closure can be made a little better/secure, but that's why you pay over $800 for top-of-the-line Arai, Shoei etc.
The internal padding looks high quality and undiscernable with higher-end ones.
Last time they had them, you get a clear & smoked visor, so even better value.

If you miss out on the style you like, get a staff member to call another store and put one aside for you.

project.r.racing · Postby **project.r.racing** » Wed Aug 10, 2011 10:09 am

Entice wrote:and no hans device attachment..

just like 99% of helmets under $1000.

BadBong · Postby **BadBong** » Wed Aug 10, 2011 10:21 am

How much are helmets normally? (I know it's a 'how long is a piece of string question')

I'm asking from an entry level's perspective for potential newbie track days

deviant · Postby **deviant** » Wed Aug 10, 2011 10:50 am

rossint wrote:I'm pretty sure CAMS class the MX5 as an open top car weather the top is up down or you have a hardtop so technically you need the visor down all the time. Whether or not this is enforced is another thing. I've been warned in the past for not having a visor at all so now just leave it on the helmet.

My car is log booked with a hard top and is considered a closed car. I am not sure if this is standard policy for CAMS though and probably depends on how the scutineer feels on the day.

Entice wrote:air flow being a major one..

and no hans device attachment..

but still, a great entry price for someone who doesnt want to use the freebie helmets for karting...

And the construction of the shell and lining and the materials used and the size and shape of the opening. Lots of differences. I would say the major differences are the style of impact they are each designed for...a car helmet is designed to take multiple impacts on the same point.

BadBong wrote:How much are helmets normally? (I know it's a 'how long is a piece of string question')

I'm asking from an entry level's perspective for potential newbie track days

$50-$5000....no joke.

Personally I think that everyone has to take some responsibility for their own safety and make a choice they are comfortable with. This involves doing a bit of a risk assesment against the chosen level of motorsport and the kind of car you are driving.
If you are just in to 'round the cones' events on a flat open space....$50 open face helmet.
Bracket drag racing in a car that wheezes down the strip in 20 seconds without so much as a chirp from the tyres....$50 open face helmet.

Take a step up to full size circuits or hill climbs and suddenly speeds are higher and there is more risk of hitting something solid so you need to look at stepping up the quality of your safety kit. I spent $400 on a closed face helmet at Revolution Racegear, essentially it is a bike helmet but it fits nicely and is not to heavy. I was doing sprints and trackdays and I felt this helmet offered the level of protection appropriate for the style of event.

I have now stepped up in to a full race car and will be going wheel to wheel next season so I am looking at upgrading to a car specific helmet with a nomex lining and HANS posts. This is a step up with the level of risk to me.

Whatever your budget you MUST have a helmet that fits correctly. In an accident a $100 helmet fitted correctly is better for you than a $5000 helmet that does not fit.

You also need to be comfortable, if you have a modified car on semi-clicks and with good suspension you would be surprised at how heavy your helmet gets mid corner!! Some helmets will pinch your head in the wrong place and other helmets will slop around and others will have a chin strap you cant do up on your own or digs in to you.

When you try it on what does the helmet do when you shake and nod your head?
Can you grab the front or back of the helmet and rotate it forwards or backwards? If the helmet is not fitting you properly you will be able to halfway pull it off doing this.
Do you wear glasses? If not make sure you take your sun glasses shopping with you and see how they feel when your helmet is on. I wear glasses and with a helmet on I can not get the arms to sit on my ears, I now chose frames with straight arms so they do not dig in to the side of my head.

Postby **Okibi** » Wed Aug 10, 2011 12:16 pm

I'd agree with that.

greenMachine · Postby **greenMachine** » Wed Aug 10, 2011 10:03 pm

deviant wrote:
rossint wrote:I'm pretty sure CAMS class the MX5 as an open top car weather the top is up down or you have a hardtop so technically you need the visor down all the time. Whether or not this is enforced is another thing. I've been warned in the past for not having a visor at all so now just leave it on the helmet.

My car is log booked with a hard top and is considered a closed car. I am not sure if this is standard policy for CAMS though and probably depends on how the scutineer feels on the day.

Considered by whom? Read the CAMS manual, it is quite specific - it is an open car.

Of course what a particular scrute, or set of Supp Regs, says is another thing, but they can only upgrade the requirements, they cannot (or are not supposed to) make the requirements more lenient.

After the recent incident at Bargaballo (sp?), and the GMS article, a closed visor is looking like a pretty good idea, regardless of the regs, or what a scrute might let me get away with.

/thread hijack off :wink:

deviant · Postby **deviant** » Wed Aug 10, 2011 10:52 pm

Its log booked as group 2ASCC...or 2A Sports car closed.

This was done 2 owners back so I do not know how or why it got to be log booked as a closed car. Maybe because the roof is bolted to the roll cage? No idea.

I can run it in a number of series including sports sedans, sports cars, marque sports cars and the WA series Street cars.